South Africa’s private security industry plays a crucial role in maintaining public safety, but challenges remain regarding compliance with regulatory standards. Across South Africa, municipalities employ private security companies and officers that are not registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA), raising concerns about accountability and security quality.
PSiRA oversees the registration of security service providers and ensures compliance with the regulations governing the industry. However, according to recent responses, data on the total number of unregistered security companies and officers currently operating within municipalities is not readily available. The Authority only tracks registered security service providers, and as such, does not maintain comprehensive statistics on unregistered businesses or officers.
Although specific figures remain elusive, PSiRA confirmed that it can provide information on unregistered security providers that have been criminally charged. This indicates that while oversight may be lacking in some areas, the Authority is actively pursuing enforcement against unregistered entities when necessary.
In an effort to tackle this problem effectively, PSiRA is collaborating with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to gather comprehensive data on security officers and businesses operating within municipalities. This partnership aims to improve understanding of the scope of unregistered security personnel and service providers employed by local governments.
According to a parliamentary reply from Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu, the full list of municipalities that employ unregistered security officers, along with the total number of unregistered officers and the duration of their unregistered status, is currently unavailable. However, this data is expected to be part of the ongoing collaborative effort to gather relevant information and take necessary actions.
To further address the issue, PSiRA has launched awareness campaigns aimed at municipalities to promote compliance with security industry regulations. These campaigns emphasize the importance of ensuring that security service providers meet PSiRA’s registration requirements, which help maintain professionalism and accountability within the industry.
It’s important to note that municipalities using private security companies for their entire security functions are not required to register as in-house security providers. Currently, 41 municipalities out of 257 have registered their in-house security providers, a significant number but still a fraction of the overall total.
Furthermore, PSiRA is required to conduct regular inspections to ensure municipalities and security service providers are in compliance with established regulations. When violations are detected, the Authority takes appropriate action to address the non-compliance, aiming to safeguard the quality of security services across the country.
These efforts reflect a broader commitment to maintaining a regulated, accountable security sector that can contribute effectively to the safety and well-being of all South Africans. As the collaboration with SALGA progresses and data becomes more accessible, it is hoped that municipalities will be better equipped to ensure all security officers and service providers are fully registered and compliant with mandated standards.
In the long run, these measures intend to strengthen oversight, reduce the risks associated with unregistered security providers, and help protect public safety while maintaining trust in the private security sector.
